Individual Details

William Gale Johnson was born in New London, Conn., and attended the public schools of his native county. His early years were passed in work on a farm, and he was but twenty years of age when his father died. He then located in Norwich and clerked in a store for some time, later engaging in business for himself. After his marriage, in 1824, he went to South America, and located in Buenos Ayres became interested in a wholesale mercantile business and ship chandlery, continuing thus for ten years.
In 1834 he returned to his native land, and at Montville established the dye works which have since been known as Johnson’s Dye Works. From the beginning until 1871 William G. Johnson conducted the business himself, and from that date until 1886 it was run by his sons, Edwin C. and Charles S. In 1886 Mr. Johnson resumed control, so continuing until his death, in 1892.
The works were then purchased from the estate by Henry C. Johnson. The dye woods of which from 15,000 to 25,000 tons are used annually, are imported from Hayti, Port de Paix, St. Marc and Gonaives. The output is about 100 barrels weekly, and about thirty hands are employed.

William G. Johnson passed away Jan. 15, 1892, and was buried in the New London cemetery.

Nine children were born to William G. Johnson and his wife, as follows:
Mary, born in Buenos Ayres, in 1825, died there;
Caroline, born Feb. 22, 1827, married Samuel Townsend and died in Vicksburg, Miss., when that city was bombarded in 1863;
Nicholas W., born Aug. 10, 1830, was a sea captain and later a banker at Des Moines, Iowa, where he died in 1901;
Louisa Matthewson, born Nov. 20, 1832, married Robert H. Gardiner, and both are deceased (their son Henry resides in Waterford);
Andrew T., born in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 10, 1834, was captain of Company A, 13th Conn. V. I., and was killed in Louisiana in 1862;
Edwin Comstock, born Aug. 29, 1837, resides on the old homestead in Montville;
Charles S., born May 26, 1840, married Sarah A. Savage and had sons Edwin Comstock and Charles Amos.
Henry C., born July 10, 1843, resides in Montville;
and Lucy J., born Feb. 17, 1846, married Dr. Robert McCurdy Lord, and both died in Kansas City, Missouri.

Birth	3 Apr 1800	Montville, New London County, Connecticut
Marriage	24 Dec 1824	Louisa Matthewson
Death	15 Jan 1829	New London County, Connecticut

Spouse

Louisa Matthewson ( - 1876)

Father	William Johnson (1775 - 1820)
Mother	Nancy Leach ( - )
Sibling	Nancy Johnson (1804 - 1872)